Pastor and 9 other people are in custody after the death of a 25-year-old worshipper of Oro on August 25, 2022. Scavenge
Mercy Okocha, the pastor of Truth and Spirit Prophetic Church, along with nine other churchgoers have been detained in connection with the death of Agboola Akeem, a 25-year-old worshipper of the Oro, at Sanni Taiwo Lawal Street in the Oko Oba neighbourhood of Lagos State.
After Akeem was allegedly stabbed and died after a confrontation between churchgoers and traditional Oro worshipers, the culprits were detained.
Trouble reportedly began when church members who were also conducting a vigil were told to cease their service by Oro worshippers who were holding their night celebration at Oko Oba.
Unfortunately, the edict was vigorously opposed by churchgoers, and the argument turned violent, creating a crisis that resulted in Akeem’s death by stoning.
Following Akeem’s passing, some local adolescents went on the rampage and tried to set the church on fire.
According to SP Benjamin Hundeyin, a spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, who confirmed the incident, at around 6.30 am, the Divisional Police Officer in the Oko Oba Police Station received a distress call about some angry youths in the neighbourhood threatening to torch the Truth and Spirit Prophetic Church, which is located at No. 2 Sanni Taiwo Lawal Street in Oko Oba.
A group of police officers were dispatched to the area in response to the distress call.
 |
After arriving on the site, it was discovered, according to Hundeyin, that the churchgoers were holding a vigil while a group of traditionalists were performing their Oro sacrament nearby. Agboola Akeem was killed as a result of the chaos that ensued when the Oro believers ordered the churchgoers to end their service.
The deceased’s body has been transported to a public morgue for an autopsy.
Mercy Okocha, the church’s pastor, as well as nine additional members have all been detained. The investigation is still ongoing.